The '''Differential Ability Scales''' (DAS) is a nationally normed (in the US), and individually administered battery of [[cognitive]] and achievement tests. Currently into its second edition (DAS-II) the test can be administered to children ages 2 years 6 months to 17 years 11 months across a range of developmental levels.

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The '''Differential Ability Scales''' (DAS) is a nationally normed (in the US), and individually administered battery of [[cognitive]] and [[achievement measures]]. Currently into its second edition (DAS-II) the test can be administered to children ages 2 years 6 months to 17 years 11 months across a range of developmental levels.

The diagnostic subtests measure a variety of cognitive abilities including [[verbal]] and [[visual]] [[working memory]], immediate and delayed recall, [[visual recognition]] and matching, processing and naming speed, [[phonological processing]], and understanding of basic number concepts.

The diagnostic subtests measure a variety of cognitive abilities including [[verbal]] and [[visual]] [[working memory]], immediate and delayed recall, [[visual recognition]] and matching, processing and naming speed, [[phonological processing]], and understanding of basic number concepts.

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The original DAS was developed from the BAS ''British Ability Scales'' both by [[Collin D. Elliot]] and published by [[Harcourt Assessment]] in 1990.

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The original DAS was developed from the BAS ''[[British Ability Scales]]'' both by [[Collin D. Elliot]] and published by [[Harcourt Assessment]] in 1990.

The Differential Ability Scales (DAS) is a nationally normed (in the US), and individually administered battery of cognitive and achievement measures. Currently into its second edition (DAS-II) the test can be administered to children ages 2 years 6 months to 17 years 11 months across a range of developmental levels.

Contents

The DAS-II consists of 20 cognitive subtests which include 17 subtests from the original DAS.

The subtests are grouped into the Early Years and School-Age cognitive batteries with subtests that are common to both batteries and those that are unique to each battery. These batteries provide the General Conceptual Ability score (GCA), which is a composite score focusing on reasoning and conceptual abilities.

The Early Years core battery includes verbal, nonverbal, and spatial reasoning subtests appropriate for ages 2 years 6 months to 6 years 11 months.

There are three optional diagnostic subtests - Recall of Objects Immediate and Delayed, Recall of Digits Forward, and Recognition of Pictures. There are also two optional diagnostic clusters: working memory and processing speed.

The School-Age core battery contains subtests that can be used to assess children ages 7 years to 17 years 11 months. These subtests measure verbal, nonverbal reasoning, and spatial reasoning abilities. The subtests can also be used to assess children ages 5 years to 6 years 11 months who may be cognitively gifted. In addition there are up to nine diagnostic subtests for this age group that feed into three possible diagnostic cluster scores: working memory, processing speed and, for the youngest ages, school readiness.